Hunkeler premieres new and future products at 13th Innovationdays

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Written by Staff Writer

Published: 04 March 2019

Swiss post-press manufacturer Hunkeler has unveiled a raft of new products and configurations at its biennial Innovationdays trade show in Lucerne, which has been hailed a huge success by organisers and exhibitors.

Hosting an estimated 6,500 visitors at Messe Luzern during the 13th running of the event, which finishes on 28 February, Hunkeler is headlining a line-up of around 100 exhibitors, with the primary event focus on continuous-feed inkjet workflow, from pre-press through to print and finishing.

The theme for the show this year is 'Success with automation' and Hunkeler has used the event to unveil a range of its new and upcoming products and enhancements to facilitate an automated production workflow.

The company’s latest releases include the DocuTrim universal sheet processing system, the Pile Stacker PST-52, a mobile additional device for stacking long sheets, and a new Generation 8 laser module for processing either from the roll or from the sheet stack.

An enhanced FB6 Flyfolder production line, meanwhile, is being demonstrated running book block production with a print run of one at a speed of up to 900 book blocks per hour.

Other live production demonstrations have included fully automatic switchover book production using a new Generation 8 system, and the production of direct mailings with dynamic perforation on a Generation 8 combi line.

New and established Hunkeler machinery has also been linked with technology from other exhibitors, including Ricoh, HP and Screen, to show various new automated workflow configurations.

Mark Bristow, managing director of Hunkeler’s UK distributor Friedheim International, which flew around 100 UK customers over to the show, said the event has been “fantastic, with so much incredible stuff to see”.

“People who come to this event every two years have certainly seen more development across the last couple of shows in relation to speed, quality, finish and automation,” he added.

Hunkeler has secured a range of sales at the event, including a Generation 8 cutting line to Germany-based Bairle Druck & Medien and DP8-II dynamic perforation modules to Switzerland-based companies Trendcommerce and Direct Mail House.

Other deals have included a Generation 8 roll-to-fold Web Folder WF8 stack line to Israel-based Hanamal and book lines to Finland-based Otova and Plymouth-based Latimer Trend.

“The show has been as good as ever, or even better. The quality of the people here is enormous – it’s mainly decision-makers from other countries that are here,” said Hunkeler area sales manager Josef Graf.

“A lot of the equipment we are showing here is not even available on the market yet, but we are showing what will come. Some of the machines will be available by the fourth quarter this year but most will be ready by the beginning of next year.”

More product launches from other exhibitors at the show will be published on printweek.com over the coming days while a look at the major trends from the event and a round-up of other news from the stands will appear in the 18 March issue of PrintWeek.

Hunkeler Innovationdays was launched in the 1990s by Franz Hunkeler, father of current Hunkeler managing director Stefan Hunkeler, who now heads up the event. Franz Hunkeler celebrated his 77th birthday at the show yesterday (27 February).